January 27, 2019, 11:33 am.

Finally exiting the CMCC is like stepping into an air-conditioned room after being in a desert during a heatwave. I almost let my mana swirl out to fill the area around me with elemental energies as we emerge, but I manage to constrain myself. Though not entirely. A small blob of molten metal forms, accompanied by small shards of ice and a lick of fire.

Making our way outside, I deliver the others to the temporary prisoner camp, staying inside the teleportation room as I add even more protections to it. Like not having a door, so people can’t wander inside.

Once I’ve ensured I won’t be teleporting into a room full of people in the future, it’s off to Aethire.

Arriving in Rufka’s little apartment in Aethire is far smoother than our first trip, no stumbling over chairs or tripping over the bed hosting the rest of the furniture. It helps that there are only four of us. Genitha runs a hand down one of her arms as we arrive, looking toward me. “That is remarkably smooth. Almost as smooth as the System’s transportation.”

“That’s what it’s based on,” I admit, turning away. “Basically just copied it.”

A rich rolling laugh echoes out of Genitha as she takes us by the shoulders. “Never underestimate the power of copying something that works. The Aetherium would be skies better if the ministers didn’t insist on being as independent as possible.”

"Mum, not this-”

With a chuckle and shake of her thick mane, Genitha interrupts Rufka before extending her right hands toward her daughter then offering me a pair of crooked elbows. “Sorry, kitten.”

As I link my arm with Genitha’s, a nervous flutter fills my belly. Exploring Aethire while on the arm of my thiani’s mum. It’s not the most normal date I’ve ever had.

Actually…

It probably is.

“It’s fine. Why don’t we… change?” Rufka gestures downward at herself, running a hand over her tawny-brown fur and tracing over one of the darker sections where her tattoo is hidden. And then the colour of her fur starts to shift. Not drastically. But enough that the patterns in her fur are different. And her eyes are closer together. Genitha’s image shifts in a similar manner, her own disguise dropping into place.

Tipan’s transformation is far more drastic, her staff changing from it’s normal white to a dark brown and her fur following suit. It sweeps over her in an instant, but only because she’s using a trinket Genitha had on hand for such transformations. One that only works on K’tharn. She holds one of her arms out, turning it back and forth. “I’ve… this is magnificent. Thanks you so much Genitha!”

Waving her off, Genitha smiles, “It’s nothing. A small trinket for my Rufka’s friend.”

The tears in Tipan’s eyes say otherwise, but she just gives a small nod as she adjusts her hair to a different style of mohawk. One that’s not so neat and organized, hanging loosely over her eyes.

Which only leaves me. I could just go invisible, but Rufka wants to go shopping. And Genitha insists I should practice my illusion magic. Most people won’t pry if they notice a bad illusion. Or so Genitha reassures me. Especially since most practitioners are Agents of the Deep or one of Aethire’s not-so-secret, secret police, the Taken.

The magic to cover my body comes easily. But it only allows me to disappear. I need to make changes that will allow me to look like a k’tharn. Thankfully, I don’t have to produce such a spell on my own. Genitha’s given me a spell form. And the System allowed me to add it to my spellbook for the low cost of five iron integration points.

Which I’m thankful for. The complexity of the spell is amazing. Thousands of little runes interwoven together as they spread across my skin. Even with the benefit of having the spell in my book, it takes me an hour of fiddling with my new ‘fur’ to get it right. My new fur isn’t too complex, a nice light brown based roughly on my hair. A detail that gives me an anchor to base it on. Luckily I don’t have to address the issue of the extra set of eyes or arms. The System provided the basics for both. I do need to make several adjustments to the colour and shape of my eyes though. When I’m finished, the others are playing a game of Astra’s Stride at one of the little tables. Most of the room has been rearranged while I worked.

…

Did I just spend an hour in character creation? Sab would never let me hear the end of it. Damn. Sab. Wish you were here. There’s so much here you’d love.

Rufka’s arm slips over my shoulder as I sigh. She says, “Don’t worry, you don’t have to get the illusion perfect.”

“It’s not… I miss my friend,” I reply, leaning my head on her shoulder as Smoulder pops out of my pocket.

“You know what I think, kittens?” Gentiha asks, all four hands on her hips as her eyes glint with mischief. “Time to put your disguises to the test. Let’s visit the World Dungeon.”

“Mum. Don’t you think-“

“It’s fine. She’s right. Let’s go. I want to know what a World Dungeon looks like,” I interrupt with a quick squeeze before standing.

“I thought it’d be a decade before I’d be ready to enter,” Tipan says, holding her staff against her chin. “And now it feels like we’ll be ready to enter in a week or two.”

With a nod, Rufka jumps to her feet beside me. “Just don’t be too disappointed. We probably won’t be able to see the dungeon itself.”

“Now, kitten. The World’s End Palace is worth seeing on its own. And I have friends. They’ll get us inside.” Genitha doesn’t give Rufka a chance to refute her words, striding out of Rufka’s little cabin. I turn to Smoulder, whose form remains unaltered. I try to impress on her that going ‘flame on’ will mean less treats. She nods in response, her nose raised in the air while broadcasting deep solemnity across our bond.

Which is ruined the moment I boop her snoot. Smoulder wiggles it furiously, nearly falling off my shoulder as she rubs against my cheek. I chuckle softly as we follow Genitha outside.

We’re greeted by a scree from a bird overhead. A motley of grey and white feathers, it circles a nearby bridge, chasing after some unseen target before flitting out of sight itself.

“Damn Ackels are getting bolder,” Genitha says, shaking her head as she leads the way up the narrow ladder from Rufka’s balcony to the main thoroughfare above.

“Never understood why you hate them so much,” Rufka says, offering me a hand as I reach the top step. It’s strange to walk when we could fly. But it’s better cover.

A snort from Genitha seems like the only answer Rufka’s going to get as Genitha saunters away. I give a small shrug as I move to follow. But Genitha’s stopped at the edge of the bridge, and is pointing to the bindings. “See these? They attract all sorts of lesser mana-insects. And the Ackels feed on them.”

“Doesn’t that mean you should like them,” Rufka asks, not bothering to follow her mum’s outstretched arm.

Tipan on the other hand, leans halfway over the bone rail. Even with flight only a single cast away, it still sets my heart beating faster. She points to a number of glowing bugs hidden in the shadows. “Oh, there are glimmerlings. I thought they only came out at night.”

Shaking her head, Genitha waves us along. “The insects are harmless. But the Ackels can damage enchantments. They shouldn’t even be allowed in the city.”

Even as Genitha finishes speaking, another “Scree” sounds out from the far side of the bridge. A moment later, the Ackle reappears, flapping directly toward us. I can feel Smoulder perched on my shoulder, preparing to leap at it. I caution her to stay still. Even as I’m issuing my instructions, the bird explodes in a burst of flame, plummeting to the side of the bridge into the abyss below. I watch it disappear as Smoulder sends me a wave of disappointment mixed with a demand as to why someone else was allowed to fry the offensive creature.

A good question. And one I’m about to ask Genitha when Tipan pulls me to the side. A pair of Fallen dash past us, their matted fur and red eyes gleaming. And one of them has their hand on a still smoking wand. I nearly fling them away from us when they turn in our direction. But I stop when another K’tharn jogs up, swearing at them. “Vaus’s tits. I told you to get rid of the Ackle, not explode it!”

The K’tharn turns to us, her face otherwise black fur marked by a white patch over her lower left eye. On her sash is a burnished bronze medallion with a spiderweb pattern engraved on it. “I’m sorry about that. New recruits are…”

Not only does she not finish her sentence, she starts dashing toward the Fallen. The one with the wand is holding it up with two hands. They glance at their companion, then at the empty pit where the Ackle fell. And then they throw the wand into the pit.

“Hey! Do you know how expensive those are?” With a gust of air, the wand is blasted up into the air before floating back down to her hand. Turning back to us, the K’tharn with the white patch says, “Sorry again. If you have a complaint, please, make sure to file it with your local matriarch.”

With that, she takes off, leading the pair of Fallen away. And leaves me staring after them.

“Did you see the crest on their bandoleers?” Genitha asks, stroking her chin.

“Yep. It’s weird seeing Fallen serving in the Thiren. Better than the Stormguard though,” Rufka says as we start moving in the opposite direction of the Fallen and their supervisor.

“Thiren?” I ask, scritching Smoulder in an attempt to keep her from going after another Ackle in the distance.

“They patrol Aethire, do repairs or respond to System requests. They’re like a Flight, only without the ability to fly. An honorable profession that many look down on,” Tipan answers while Rufka calms Smoulder with a piece of charred… something.

We cross through a round gate at the end of the bridge, the bone arch worked so smoothly it looks like a single piece as it merges with the rest of the building beneath us. Genitha pauses for a second before striding towards one of the much larger bridge-tunnels where I can already see dozens of K’tharn. She wasn’t kidding about putting our disguises to the test.

As we move beneath another bone arch, Genitha glances over her shoulder. “The Thiren aren’t allowed to leave Aethire either. Keeping the Fallen out of the Flights should give the council more control over them. Nice to know they aren’t all idiots.”

“Would they even be able to join a Flight? Wouldn’t the System kick them out?” I ask as we join the flow of K’tharns moving North.

“Hmm. Don’t see why. It’d be easy enough to-“ I nearly bump into Genitha’s back as she comes to a sudden halt. Which is impressive. A week ago, I would’ve slammed into her. And probably taken her to the ground with me.

Peeking over her shoulder, I realize she’s watching a K’tharn in the distance.

With a loud ‘humph’ Genitha turns back to us. “Change of plans. You three go shopping. I’ll meet you at Vethala’s.”

“Mum,” Rufka says, her eyes narrowing.

“It’ll be fine kitten. Just some… personal business. I’ll see you in a few hours. Or I’ll send a message.” Genitha doesn’t give Rufka time to argue, giving her a quick peck on the cheek before striding away at twice the pace we’d just been walking at before disappearing behind a small crowd of other K'tharn.

Rufka grumbles as her mum strides away, rubbing at her cheek as she watches her leave. But I slip my arm around hers, pulling her attention back. “You heard her, she’ll be fine. Besides, didn’t you want to take us shopping?”

Patting Rufka’s other shoulder, Tipan says, “And you promised to show me ‘A side of Aethire I’ve never seen before.’”

A smile slowly creeps across Rufka’s face as she glances after her mum before looking back at me. “Yeah. I did.”

“Also,” I say as I match Rufka’s casual stroll in the direction we’d been heading before stopping. With a glance at Tipan, I double check my connection to Genitha. Ensured it’s still in place, I turn to Rufka with a smile. “I know exactly where she is.”